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Post subject: Prospective new purchase
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2014 11:17 am
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Hey everyone,

So I came across this beauty and really want to buy it. The owner says that it is a Japanese Stratocaster and he seems like a very trustworthy guy. The problem is that I cannot find a serial number anywhere on the guitar. He showed me a code under the scratch plate.

Here are some pictures. He has been very transparent about everything, so that's why I am more inclined to trust him, but I am paranoid buy default, so that why I need some help :)

Is this a legitimate Fender Stratocaster?

Image

Image

Image

(More pics on next post)


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Post subject: Re: Prospective new purchase
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2014 11:17 am
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Image

Image

Image

(More pics on next post)


Last edited by Sil3nt eck0 on Fri Jul 11, 2014 11:21 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Prospective new purchase
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2014 11:18 am
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Image

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Post subject: Re: Prospective new purchase
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2014 11:28 am
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The guitar appears to be a composite -- some Fender parts, but some are decidedly not.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Prospective new purchase
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2014 12:13 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
The guitar appears to be a composite -- some Fender parts, but some are decidedly not.

Arjay


Thanks for the quick reply Arjay. What parts can you see that are not Fender? And is this a terrible thing? Excuse my ignorance, I'm not 100% clued up with all Fender parts as yet :)

Also, any idea what pickups those are?

I think the price is reasonable at R4500 ($420). Is it worth the buy?


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Post subject: Re: Prospective new purchase
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2014 1:15 pm
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The tuning machines are about the only things that look to be legit.
They were found on the large headstock bullet necks in the 70s.

The rest of it is not Fender.
It is a fake, and I wouldn't touch it with the sharp end of a pointy stick, let alone actually pay money for it.

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Post subject: Re: Prospective new purchase
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2014 1:26 pm
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The price seems a tad too high.
Personally I'd pass. (Might concider prices under 100$ if it plays & feels real good.)
The body cavity is odd - squierish, as is the trem cover. Neck... not very trustworthy.

Hey, seriously, why wouldn't a legit MIJ Stratocaster have a serial number..?


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Post subject: Re: Prospective new purchase
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2014 1:44 pm
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Suspect. The tuners are Fender but they never used those style on a small headstock neck. Actually I think the only time Japan used those are on very specific higher end reissues with the large headstock. The neck plate and decal as well just could have been swapped. The pickups do not look like anything I have seen before on an MIJ. The body routes to not look Fender. The trem cover does not have the offset center screws like a typical MIJ Fender Strat. Seems to be some kind of other brand cheap copy at best. The total lack of a serial number as well points to fraud or some type of shenanigans. The most I would give is 50 bucks because the tuners are legit to use on a 70s reissue. The neck could probably sell for 100 bucks if it is in good shape but you would need to list it as "unknown" and not "Fender" since the decal does not belong there. The bridge is generic china and worthless. Body as well is essentially worthless.

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Post subject: Re: Prospective new purchase
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2014 2:06 pm
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ebaysux wrote:
Suspect. The tuners are Fender but they never used those style on a small headstock neck.


The guitar in question isn't one of them, but Fender did use the F tuners on the early 80s "Dan Smith" strats

Image

I agree with everyone else, this is a fake. Those pickups look like they came from one of the early 70s MIJ strat copies


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Post subject: Re: Prospective new purchase
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2014 2:09 pm
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Yogi wrote:
Those pickups look like they came from one of the early 70s MIJ strat copies


+1

Hondo comes to mind.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Prospective new purchase
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2014 2:11 pm
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Yogi wrote:
ebaysux wrote:
Suspect. The tuners are Fender but they never used those style on a small headstock neck.


The guitar in question isn't one of them, but Fender did use the F tuners on the early 80s "Dan Smith" strats

Image

I agree with everyone else, this is a fake. Those pickups look like they came from one of the early 70s MIJ strat copies


Could be. I pay no attention to the "Smith eras". But to my defense I specifically mentioned I was talking about MIJ guitars only in the reply.

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Post subject: Re: Prospective new purchase
Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2014 12:26 am
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Thanks a lot guys. I think its safe to say I won't be buying the guitar :)

He does have a MiM for sale as well (R5500 / $513) that looks pretty legit. Guitars are pretty pricey in my country.

Image

Image

I think I'm just going to buy from a reputable music store instead.


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Post subject: Re: Prospective new purchase
Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2014 12:40 am
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Sil3nt eck0 wrote:
... I think I'm just going to buy from a reputable music store instead.


Smartest thing you've said in this thread ! :wink:

Good Luck !

cheers!

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Post subject: Re: Prospective new purchase
Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2014 2:14 am
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Sil3nt eck0 wrote:
Thanks a lot guys. I think its safe to say I won't be buying the guitar :)

He does have a MiM for sale as well (R5500 / $513) that looks pretty legit. Guitars are pretty pricey in my country.

Image

Image

I think I'm just going to buy from a reputable music store instead.


This one appears to be legitimate.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: Prospective new purchase
Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2014 5:40 am
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That one looks nicer. It is pricey for where I live but it is a nice guitar. It looks a lot like the one that I just got. I am very happy with mine.


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